Selloane Nyakane
Maseru- The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has launched an online voter registration system on Friday 9thAugust.
In opening, IEC Public Relations Officer Mr. Tuoe Hants’i said the move is intended to make it easier for eligible voters to register, update their details or verify their registration status at their convenient time without having to visit physical offices.
“The other IEC mandate is to oversee voter registration process, ensure that eligible citizens are registered, voter rolls are accurate and up to date and also to educate the public ” he said
However, explaining that there have been concerns over years regarding accuracy of voter registration. He mentioned that IEC has been registering voters since 2001 and issues such as Deceased person’s , duplicate registration and inaccuracies in voter information have been witnessed.
“ An accurate and clean voter registry has for longest time been a challenge, and the disparity between the number of people who registered to vote and those who actually vote is a concern,” he added
Hants’i estimated that the past elections only 500,000 people voted out of 1.4million thus the need to clean and come out with accurate voters register as it is essential for the integrity and fairness of any electoral process.
He outlined requirements for online registration, A person should be 18yrs and a citizen of Lesotho with valid national ID, they should have a laptop, smartphone, camera and also provide with a photograph and personal information
Advocate Mpaiphele Maqutu , Director of Elections stressed that many countries routinely update and clean their register after 5years to ensure accuracy, remove ineligible voters such as those who(passed away), however Lesotho has been using the same voter registration for almost 23 years.
“ IEC advised itself to re-register voters for accessibility, convenience, data accuracy, efficiency and enhanced voter engagement,” he listed
Maqutu said they are working with Development Companies to built more accurate voters registration. Adding that IEC has also integrated with department of Home Affairs to streamline registration process.
He indicated that Home Affairs already maintain a comprehensive database of citizen information which include Death, Birth, and withhold information of citizen at the age of 18 and other hence this will help with real-time data, identity verification ( identify shared names) on the other hand simplifying the process and cost effective.
He said no one will register without National ID, also mentioning that he has met with various Ministries and they ensured there will be no challenge in issuing national IDs.
Adding that everywhere national ID is required, for example (pensioners , students ) need to have one to be paid and admitted to schools thus it won’t be a challenge to register using National ID.
Moreover, he imdicated that IEC will engage in online voter registration in all areas where Basotho are seen in numbers country wide, adding that those who don’t have smartphones can continue to register at IEC offices in their different constituencies.
